Pilgrimage to Israel with FR. CEASAR LENENIO “NOX” GARCIA

Morning arrival in Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv. Meet and assist then proceed to Nazareth to visit the Basilica of Annunciation where the Archangel Gabriel announced to Virgin Mary the birth of Jesus Christ. Celebrate private Mass. Visit also St. Joseph’s workshop and Home of the Holy Family. Then proceed to Mt. Tabor to see Basilica of Transfiguration. Transfer to the hotel in Nazareth for check-in, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel. Have a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Drive to Capernaum, the town where Jesus made His home after leaving Nazareth. View the remains of the ancient Synagogue in which He taught, and on to Tabgha, where the Miracle of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes took place. Drive to Mount of Beatitudes; this is the site of the Sermon on the Mount and St. Peter’s Primacy Church. Continue to “Qasr El Yahud” or most commonly known as the Jordan River, the baptismal site. There will be renewal of Baptismal vows. Then proceed to Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle. He turned the water into wine at the Wedding in Cana. Celebrate private Mass (Those who wish may renew their wedding vows). Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. Drive down to Caesarea, which was built by Herod the Great to catch sight of the Aqueducts and the Roman Theater. This is where St. Paul was imprisoned. Enroute to Haifa to visit Stella Maris Church where one can enjoy a panoramic view of the Mediterranean. Celebrate private Mass. Transfer to the hotel in Bethlehem for check-in, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel. Start the full day tour at Mount of Olives to visit the Ascension Chapel, where Jesus ascended into Heaven. Visit the Church of Pater Noster to witness the “Lord’s Prayer’ written in several languages. Proceed to the church of Dominus Flevit, where God wept over Jerusalem. Continue by walking down the Palm Sunday road to the Church of All Nations (celebrate private Mass) and the Garden of Gethsemane, to see the Basilica of Agony, the place where Jesus prayed before the Roman soldiers came for Him. Visit also King David’s tomb. Enter the Mount Zion area to see the Last Supper Room where Jesus and His disciples had their last supper. Move on to Dormition Abbey and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, the House of the High Priest Caiaphas where St. Peter denied Jesus three times. Drive to Qumran, the caves of the Essenes where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found by a wandering shepherd boy. Proceed to the Dead Sea and take a dip in the lowest and saltiest sea on earth. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the Church of St. Anne, this church was built over a crypt venerated as the birthplace of Virgin Mary and the home of her parents. See also the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus performed a miracle curing a man who has been paralyzed for 38 years. Then move on to the Wailing Wall. This wall is holy to the Jews throughout the generations since the Diaspora or Dispersion of the Jews with the decline of the patriarchal system in Palestine. Then walk the Via Dolorosa starting at the Ecce Homo, where Pontius Pilate washed his hands. Proceed to the Flagellation and go through all the Stations of the Cross until you reach the Church of the Holy Sepulcher where Jesus was crucified, died and rose from the dead. Celebrate private Mass. Afterwards, move on to Bethlehem to visit the Nativity Church, the traditional birthplace of Jesus. See also the Manger Square, the Milk Grotto, and the Shepherds’ Field. It was the site where the star appeared to the shepherds which lead them to the manger where baby Jesus was born. Back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Drive to Ein Karem to visit St. John the Baptist Church and Church of Visitation (Magnificat) where the Blessed Virgin Mary visited Elizabeth. Celebrate private Mass. Proceed to Tel Aviv. Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport to catch flight back to Manila via Dubai.

HOME SWEET HOME!!!